Barnett may face inquiry by CCC

The West Australian

Tuesday, 14 July 2009 12:30PM

Premier Colin Barnett faces the prospect of a Corruption and Crime Commission inquiry over allegations he had a conflict of interest when he moved in State Parliament to have an historic Peppermint Grove residence removed from the State heritage register.

The Cliffe is owned by millionaire prospector Mark Creasy, who has since won a demolition order over the 115-year-old building from Peppermint Grove shire.

Mr Creasy is the biggest shareholder in Freedom Eye Ltd, a biotechnology company chaired by Mr Barnett's son Russell.

Mr Barnett revealed yesterday that a complaint had been lodged with the CCC claiming that his motivation in having The Cliffe removed from the heritage register was to benefit his son.

The CCC has passed the complaint to the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Grant Woodhams, who is also chairman of Parliament's powerful privileges committee which investigates misconduct allegations against politicians.

Under the CCC Act, the privileges committee can opt to hand the complaint back to the CCC for investigation as it did in the case of MPs John McGrath, John Quigley and Ben Wyatt 10 months ago.

That investigation resulted in no findings of misconduct against the MPs but effectively destroyed the ministerial ambitions of Mr McGrath.

Mr Barnett said the allegations were false and he denied acting to benefit his son when he argued that the dilapidated building should be removed from the register, clearing the way for demolition.

"I totally reject that I was driven by any other motive than serving a constituent legitimately as a member of Parliament," he said.

"This complaint is false, it is spurious bordering on the bizarre. However a complaint has been made, the CCC Commissioner has a responsibility to act on that complaint, he has chosen to refer a copy to the Speaker . . . and we'll see what happens from there on."

Mr Barnett said he had become aware of the association between Mr Creasy and his son's company only when CCC Commissioner Len Roberts-Smith informed him of the complaint in writing on June 30.

He said he knew nothing of it at the time he argued for The Cliffe to be removed from the heritage register in Parliament in May last year.

The motion passed through both Houses of Parliament with the support of Labor.

Russell Barnett, who has been a director of Freedom Eye since July 2007, said he had not spoken to Mr Creasy in 20 years and had never discussed The Cliffe with his father.

"I didn't even know where it (The Cliffe) was before yesterday," he said.

Acting Opposition Leader Roger Cook said Colin Barnett should remove himself as the Minister responsible for the CCC while the investigation proceeded.

"While they're undertaking an investigation into him, then surely it's not appropriate that they report to the Minister," Mr Cook said.

A spokesperson for Mr Barnett said the Premier would not be moving responsibility for the CCC to another ministry.

Mr Woodhams could not be contacted yesterday but the deputy chairman of the Assembly's privileges committee, Labor's Mark McGowan, said he expected the committee to discuss the complaint and decide who should investigate it.

"I'm sure we'll take advice from the Clerk and proceed from there," he said.